Paroubek: Dienstbier not only possible presidential candidate

Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek has said that former Czech foreign minister Jiri Dienstbier is not the only candidate his party is considering for next year's presidential elections. Mr Paroubek was responding on Saturday to speculation in the media that Mr Dienstbier was the most likely opponent of current incumbent Vaclav Klaus during the presidential election in early 2008.

The Czech president is elected by both houses of parliament. Mr Klaus's Civic Democrats are the strongest party in both houses but he would still need the support of at least 19 MPs to be re-elected. The Social Democrats are currently in negotiations with the Communists, the Greens and the Christian Democrats about fielding a possible joint candidate to stand against Mr Klaus.